Well ain't THIS gonna be fun?

[CamelPilot]

A brand new forum, for aviation nuts of all kinds. Retired like me, but still with the bug that daily courses the veins from which there is no know cure.

When this forum was first muted, I wanted to ensure that it would be possible to express every facet of aviation. With contributions and discussions from display pilots, from test pilots, from Captains or FO's of some of the world's most brilliant aircraft sallying forth to their hearts content about the great steeds they have had strapped to their rears.

From fighter pilots old an new. I will get some input from BoB pilots I hope. Our friend John Farley will make a contribution or two and I will, a little at a time, pick out a few of the precious aeroplanes I have flown.

Talk about 'old' aircraft if you can, but this doesn't mean that you must, talk of the olden and golden days too.

Just let go and let people know how you feel and how you felt about your careers and your memories. Get the log books out and pinpoint those great moments.

That's it for now. I have officially opened the forum so please enjoy it - with each other. I'll get ringing old friends. Now where is that telephone number of he who used to fly Constellations for Britannia.

I want to make this forum one of the MOST read on PPRuNe.

[5711N0205W]

Wow, first reply on a new forum (if no-one else has a faster finger!!).

Seriously though, my Father was a career RAF pilot both before and through WWII right up to the late sixties. He picked up a few medals including an AFC. He does not want to talk much about his experiences (coming from an age when self glorification was not the done thing plus I'm sure the sheer traumatism of some of them). Is there a site/route that can be used to trace the award of medals etc that anyone is aware of.

TIA
CCrab

[CamelPilot]

I just found this one CC, might be a help. But by using the search engine GOOGLE, you can use the smallest definitions and it will still find you something.

Anyway, worth a go.
http://members.tripod.com/~Caryl_Williams/veterans.html

Let us know how you get on.

[Lurkio Linepilutt]

Will be a regular lurker!

Good luck with the new forum - way past time we had one.

LL

[PPRuNe Towers]

CC: There's a very effective historical unit run by volunteeers/retirees at the MOD.

I wrote to them regarding my dad's operations on Stirlings during the war. Immensely helpful - Squadron History (149), crest etc supplied and can do much more if requested. I don't have the current address to hand but I'm sure there'll be someone along who can help further.


Best Wishes
Rob Lloyd

[CamelPilot]

Is it just possible, to save me hitting the PPRuNe Fund, to let me have a set of 1/2m topo's of the UK. Up to date would be nice but not vital.

[Evo7]

(Trying again - sorry if this is a duplicate)

PPRuNe Towers

Are you talking about the MoD Air Historical Branch? My brother works for them, so they are not volunteers or retirees, although I expect they get some help from that direction. Very helpful bunch indeed - I can pass on contact details if required.

CamelPilot

Great idea for a forum - I'm gonna enjoy this one :) :)

[henry crun]

CP: I've got two or three from the early to mid fifties somewhere if that is up to date enough for you. :)

Well, it is a nostalgia forum !.

[ 17 December 2001: Message edited by: henry crun ]

[foxmoth]

As a lover and pilot of any old aircraft I can get my hands on I will be looking at this forum with great interest - can provide info/ anecdotes for many types esp. Dh.

[ShyTorque]

Great stuff!

By coincidence tonight I was just going through some very old aviation books and stuff I was presented with by my wife's granny (as a reward on gaining my RAF wings in the 1970s).

Got one book from 1911 (cost 1 shilling!) that describes "Lift and Drift" as opposed to lift and drag. Written by a lady called Gertrude Bacon, who I believe was one of the first British women to fly.

Also found an autograph book with the signatures of a few aviation pioneers such as M. Desoutter, W. H. Ewer and Lewis Turner, all piloting aircraft and signed at Hendon in August 1912. Also B.C. Hucks (Hucks starter?), G. W. Hamel, dated Oct 1912.

Also re-discovered what I understand to be the sole surviving copy of a (1950s), RAF produced, 16 mm film about the last Spitfires in RAF service, the 3 Mk 24s based at Kai Tak. One of these aircraft is now in the RAF museum.

Lots of other stuff from before the great war until the 1960s.

Fascinating, to me at least.

[CamelPilot]

ShyTorque

Interesting to us too. I was asked on another thread to say what it was like to fly a Camel. I have done that.

I would like anyone with interesting nostalgia and things they have or have done to let us know about them. It really is as simple as that. Share it. If it's interesting to you it will be interesting to us.

foxmoth

I had a bet with myself that the minute you found this forum you would be in it. As I know what you do and what types you fly, how about giving a sample?

[ShyTorque]

Ooer!

Just done a search for Gertrude Bacon. She was the FIRST woman to fly in the UK.

And a copy of her book, identical to mine is now on sale for £300. That 1 shilling my wife's grandfather paid for it new has multiplied in value by a factor of 7,200!

My big box of old books is going to be looked after more carefully from now on.... :eek:

[foxmoth]

You aked for it Camel!
Remember the Strathalen collection sale, well I picked up the Leopard Moth (G-AIYS)after the sale. The first problem was a sticker saying "compass unreliable, only to be flown within 25 miles of Strathallen" (I know I have spelt it differently - just making sure I get it right at least 1 out of 2 goes!). Phone call to the CAA at Perth tells me - go ahead and submit peperwork when you get the a/c to Goodwood - more of that later!
Flew down to Goodwood aligning the DI with known features, ie runways, A1 etc. not needing to stop for fuel but running out of OIL just short of Cambridge.
Next day rang CAA to be told " before you leave Strathalen you need a class A permit to fly it down to Goodwood."
After ripping into them about THEM having invalidated the insurance etc. because of Perths advice I got an apology.
For those aces flying Spamcans this was flown non radio and (as you have read) no compass.
NB- Where do you know me from, is it just my postings? Also, how can I get MY hands on the Camel?

[I have control]

All Hail to this Forum!

ShyTorque take care of that wonderful stuff you have!

The Spitfire film sounds interesting. Peter Arnold has a request in the most recent Aeroplane Monthly for rare/unique Spitfire photos and footage.


Gertrude Bacon was not the first British woman to fly. After earlier balloonists, the honour of first fixed wing flights belong to either the sister or the cousin of Percy Pilcher (both flew his gliders in the late 1890s, don't know which came first). This is not very well known.

[Kermit 180]

Superb! Lets bring it on!

[Fris B. Fairing]

CP

You picked a good day to launch your new forum, 17th December being Wilbur and Orville's anniversary and also the anniversary of the first flight of the very first DC-3. May AHaN flourish. If anyone shares my passion for Lockheeds check out

"The Lockheed File" (http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/lock1.htm)

[Chairborne 09.00hrs]

Shy Torque - you MUST get that film transferred to video so we can all see it!

Can't wait........

[CamelPilot]

ShyTorque

I know how you can do that! Get 'that' film transferred to Video. One of our PPRuNers is a Video man, has produced dozens of the Flight Deck series.

Get in touch with me, my e-mail is easily accessible.

[Kermit 180]

Actually, that Lockheed site is awesome. I have just finished reading "Smithy - The Life of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith" by Ian Mackersey, so found the Altair bit with the "Lady Southern Cross" very interesting.

[CamelPilot]

henry crun

Thanks, but just a bit too old for my purposes. I need them on hand to answer questions like the one earlier about Skipworth Common.

[pjdj777]

Nice one CP

a place for all us romantics, looking forward to hearing stories of those old beasties I fell in love with when I was a kid, esp Sunderlands, Daks, Hurricanes and Lancasters.

Oooh I've got all tingly

[Chimbu chuckles]

What a top idea for a forum.

As a 'young'chap(I've been 40 less than a week) I've always loved old aeroplanes.

As were most of us I would think, I virtually learnt to read on Biggles Books, my Father's books that he had been given in the 30s.

When I began learning to fly over 20 years ago my only goal in life was to find something small, aerobatic, tailwheel and turn it upside down :D I achieved that with a rating in a Decathlon when I had about 40 hours total, although I had been turning C152As upside down from about hour 3 it wasn't the same. My father was telling me from the time I was in my early teens that the "silk scarfe and goggles era is over, it was damn near over when I learned to fly!!"(RAF circa 1950)

Well I've since logged about 10000hrs with 1000 hrs in Taildraggers including about 60 in Tigermoths, a few in Chippys but most in C185 in PNG where my career started in a 1961 model which was still fitted with the old barrel DG etc in 1986!

One day, with luck, I'll be based somewhere where I can fly the oldies more often, until then I'll have to be content to snatch the odd hour here and there when on leave in OZ. Although mates with DH82s/Chippys etc are getting thin on the ground I am hoping to check out in a P51 next year(damn the cost :D)

While I now fly a very lovely Dassault Falcon with EFIS etc etc there's nothing that beats the rumble of a tailskid on turf!

Chuckles :D

[ 18 December 2001: Message edited by: Chimbu chuckles ]

[gravity victim]

[ 18 December 2001: Message edited by: gravity victim ]

[Feather #3]

Congratulations!! :)

At last an International forum where we can gather info and exchange data on old a/c.

Well Done and a Merry Xmas <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

G'day

<img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[Bus429]

At last! As one with a interest in vintage aviation and a short seven years involved with the operational restoration movement at Duxford, I am very pleased this forum has started.
It'll be great to wallow in this forum - I am increasingly disillusioned with contemporary aviation with its emphasis on commercial considerations above all else.
I'll even be polite to pilots! :)

[pigboat]

Absolutely great idea, CP. I'm going to love this place. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I also will read this site as old airplanes have not only been part of my life, I still earn my living flying them.

I have two partners in London and we specialize in the Catalina. ( I live in Canada )

In fact I just moved one from Duxford to Lee on Solent. There are some write ups in Jan. Aeroplane and Flypast. We also flew in a movie for Merimax in July this year at North Weald with another PBY.

We get to ferry all over the world, about forty countries in the past five years.

Anyhow my hangup are Catalinas, just love them.

We have a web site with pictures at.

<a href="http://www.pbyflighttraining.com" target="_blank">www.pbyflighttraining.com</a> for anyone wanting to look at what we do.

................

:) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

[PPRuNe Towers]

Our apologies for the site being down so much of yesterday but the upgrade was an important part of improving the service to you all.

Pressure of work here at the Towers meant it was a long time between dreaming this forum up and getting it to you but I think it will be a great success under CP's stewardship. There have been a few fascinating registrations in the last few days and I really look forward to seeing them post here.

[CamelPilot]

Already there are many little snippets that suggest some of you, like cat driver, can expand a bit - actually rather a lot by the looks of some it. :)

This is what people like to see.

I have done it, and I am certain it would be interesting to hear your tales.

I was also going to add that I will get to adding a bit more about flying WW1 fighters. This time the DR1 among others.

[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: CamelPilot ]</p>

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I have been going over some of my more memorable flights in PBY's.

I don't quite know which one to write about,,,, lets see. Longest time airborne: 19.5 hours 1968...Longest flight in miles: Dakar Senegal to South America 1998,, Most terrifying: Flying during the harmatten dust storms in the Saharah 1996. Most uneasy feeling: Having Migs scrambled on us Dire Dawa Ethiopia 1999. Most interesting: Joining the mile high club in the right blister 1969. Most memorable: Living with the Tuareg's in Niger and Chad. Most frustrating: Losing an engine in Jeddah then the agony of changing the fu..... thing. Then there was the fifteen years firebombing with them ..... Hell I can just go on and on forever......

So which one do all you guys and gals want to hear about???

--------------
:) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

[pigboat]

Cat, did you know Frank Burney or Moose Murdoch? One of my first jobs was flying the Canso as third crew with Frank and Paul Lalancette in 1966. Did the goose hunt for Austin, based in Moosonee. We also did the sked up the East coast of Hudson's Bay, as far as Cape Dorset.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Did you fly Cats with Brian McCook along the Nile a few years ago? He was like a second father to me in PNG. His first job was flying Cats in the Pacific for the RNZAF in the dying days of WW2.

He flew Albatros for Coneco based out of Seletar for while too. He was a principle for a proposed operation in the Gulf of Thailand in the early 90s but Thai shareholders staged a bit of a coup and took it over. I was going to fly PBY5As for them.

He started giving me my floating hull endorsement in a Grumman Widgeon on Rabaul Harbour but circumstances conspired against us and I didn't finish it <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

Lovely old bloke, now retired in Brisbane, Australia, with failing health unfortunately.

Ref the stories, start wherever :) You weren't John Goodmans 'stunt double' in Always were you <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Chuck.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Pigboat:

Moose Murdock checked me out on the DC3 and The PBY at Austin Airways in 1967, I then flew for him when he bought his first waterbomber CF-HHR. ( It is in Holland now )

Chimbu:

I did not fly on that Nile thing, however I flew that airplane CF-JCV for Austin And Air Caledonia we did the last flight of a PBY in commercial service in Canada on the West Coast of B.C. in 1986. It then went to Africa and is now in New Zealand.

No I did not fly the Super Cat in Always, however I did fly the same one for the Flying Fireman waterbombing.

................

:) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

[pigboat]

Guess there's a lot of guys out there that knew Moose. Last time I saw him musta been twenty years ago in YYT. He'd just arrived from Lajes with CRR, I believe it was, on one engine. His son Leigh still lives here.
I did a model of JCV, in Austin colours ca 1965, for Bill Casselman awhile back. Bill used to be a demo pilot for Canadair, on the 215 and 415, now working for Soradis.
Two quick questions. Whatever happened to CF-AAD, and do you know the reg of the one Buffalo lost this last season in Inuvik. Was it PQM?
Would you drop me an e-mail? I'm looking for info on the interior layout of the waterbomber. I've just started a new PBY model and could use some feedback.
Tks.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Hi again Pigboat:

First: C-FCRR has been owned by Franklin Devaux since 1995 and I have been flying it for him for the past five years, we have been all around Africa with it. We also flew the Aeropostale mail route from Toulouse France to Santiago Chile with it and then did a winter of flying in Brazil, it is now back in Paris. I believe we will be doing an around the world trip with it next year.

CF-AAD crashed in Great Whale River in Sept. or Oct. of 1972 it was a complete loss, fortunately there were no fatalities.

The machine that crashed last summer in the N.W.T. was an ex. NFLD waterbomber C-FNJE. To bad as it was a good machine, we used it for crew training in Oshawa in I believe 1997.

.................

:) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

[BEagle]

Are there still PBYs, Catalinas or Cansos based at Gander? I'm sure I remember seeing them sitting aboooooot on the ground there, eh?

[pigboat]

BEagle, no the Newfoundland Forest Service got rid of their Cansos some years ago and replaced them with the CL-215. They were acquired by various operators, notably Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife. The hangars, off to the east of R22, are still being used to store the 215's over the winter. There is one on static display at a downtown location, as well as a CF101 Voodoo and a Lockheed Ventura. That's abooot it. :)
Cat thanks for the info.

[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: pigboat ]</p>

[CamelPilot]

I am chuffed to bits that this forum, since the 17th of December, has managed to infect so many with the urge to start so many interesting threads. We knew, of course, that it would be a winner but I don't think we realised that there would be such enthusiasm.

It's Great! Keep it going. While we are at it can we have some of the stories that you MUST be dying to tell. There is obviously a whole bunch of people just waiting to hear. :)

[sandysproule]

Foxmoth

you might be interested in this. Got a 1929 DH Gipsy Moth Price List and DH Gipsy engine "price list of spare parts and tools" dated nov 1928,,,

both from the DE HAVILLAND AICRAFT CO. LTD Stag lane Aerodrome Edgware MDDX

Telephone Edware 0171 (Eight lines) {must have been busy <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> } Telegrams and Cables HAVILLAND-Phone-Edgware.

Snifters on prices,,,

Gipsy moth Landplane (wooden Construction) £675 0s 0d Ex works ready for flight

Gipsy moth Seaplane (Fuselage of metal) will set you back a heady £960 0s 0d Ex works dismantled and ready for packaging.

Also special flying kit for those "out of Africa moments" Tropical Topee Helmet (fitted headphones) £1 5s 0d Please state size when ordering.

8 KLG sparking plugs 15 shillings what price today I wonder?

Good forum chaps :)

Sandy S